180 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



April, 1914 



this year is the one that 

 carries next year's grapes. 



In the Southern States, 

 notably in Florida, where I 

 have my winter home, the 

 Muscadines are our fashion. 

 These grapes are tough skin- 

 ned in all the varieties, and 

 bear no sort of comparison 

 with what are called in that 

 climate the bunch grapes, 

 that is the Niagaras, Lind- 

 leys, and so forth. The real 

 charm, however, of grape grow- 

 ing in the South is the fact 

 that we can grow out of doors 

 the Black Hamburg and the 

 Muscats, as well as that ad- 

 mirable new grape called 

 Thompson's Seedless. I think 

 we shall very soon secure seed- 

 less grapes for growth in all parts of the 

 country. It is desirable, while growing 

 seedlings, to bear this in mind at all 

 times, that is to select those which have 

 small seeds and few. 



Now what to do with all this grape 

 crop? I certainly would not advise small 

 growers to grow grapes for market, not 

 as a rule. It hardly pays those who are 

 best situated; and who can command 

 the market. I would grow grapes, in 

 large quantity, almost strictly for home 



Even in the smallest garden grapes can be grown 



consumption. I would provide for break- 

 fast almost an entire fruit menu, of 

 which grapes, in season, should constitute 

 a large part. 



There is hardly a yard so small, either 

 in country or city, where you cannot grow 

 one or more vines, and produce a few hun- 

 dred pounds of grapes; the ordinary sub- 

 urban garden should have them at every 

 point even to wildness — they could hang 

 down from the trees, they should make the 

 walls picturesque, and they should have 



all the idle corners to do 

 their best in. 1 will warrant 

 you that they will do more 

 in small space than any 

 other fruit. 



As a rule grapes scattered 

 about a farm, especially those 

 that sow themselves, do not 

 need doctoring against fun- 

 goid diseases; but in a vine- 

 yard you will need to apply 

 remedies against black rot 

 and similar diseases. I give 

 my grapes a good spraying 

 with arsenical mixtures at 

 the same time that I am spray- 

 ing for codling moth. A little 

 later I am on the lookout 

 again with a second spray- 

 ing, about the time that I 

 am killing the currant worm. 

 A third spraying may be desirable in 

 midsummer. The leaf folder is my chief 

 trouble in Florida, and it certainly is a 

 pest. It begins its work early in the 

 season, and utterly defoliates the vines, 

 and keeps them defoliated. 



Take your visitors on a sampling ramble 

 among your vines, and get their opinion of 

 the comparative merits of each. One 

 thing I am sure of — having formed a 

 liking for grape culture, you will never 

 weary of it. 



Pergolas can be made not only beautiful but useful by growing grapes over them. Flower borders may be planted on each side 



